Thursday, January 31, 2008

Last night I felt like I was back into my routine of winter TV programs. Seems a bit ridiculous to miss some of my fav shows with this Writer's strike affecting the programing, but there you have one of my weaknesses.....I cannot live without TV. Now that I've made my confession....let's talk shows :) Lost played it's Season Finale last night and since I had missed it last spring, I was glad for the replay.After watching the program since it began, I feel like I know these people and can't wait to see what I've been missing.Also a new Survivor will begin soon as well. I know, I know....it's kind of warped and maybe even a bit sadistic to enjoy watching grown-ups act like a bunch of spoiled brats with all the bickering, go thru challenges that would make a grown man cry and see them starve themselves to win a million $s, but there is something so irresistible to be that "fly-on-the-wall". Now, in case some of you think it's a colossal waste of time, and reality/sci-fi TV to be trashy, I justify it by reading during commercials or knitting while watching...see, creative :P

This picture was taken of the Alaska Highway, just north of us here in Fort St. John. The weather is a frigid -40c plus wind chill making it even colder!! Hubby is not working since the Oil Patch cannot function in this deep freeze. Machinery freezes solid and exposed skin freezes within minutes. This is Hubby's first time sitting at home because of extreme cold! So, the best we can do is snuggle in front of the fireplace and wait it out. Brrrrr!

Monday, January 28, 2008

I haven't posted a 2 part entry yet but this one deserves a follow-up. It's -38c!! It's a week day and both our vehicles didn't want to turn over. It's called "not-starting-our babies-yesterday" predicament. Part 2 of that scenario is that my car wouldn't turn over, no matter what and hubby's truck wasn't plugged in, since we only have one cord(the second one shorted out) and he didn't have to leave for work today, so it was only me going out.....big mistake!! After plugging the truck in for several hours it finally turned over and is running to warm up. Hubby will give my car a boost and then we're going to go buy another cord :P This cold snap sure takes a toll on us....our vehicles....on everything!!

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Huh?? Not in this neck of the woods....that's for sure!! It's a frigid -31c and is supposed to remain freezing like that for the entire final week of January. So much for fuel emissions adding to the global "crisis"...here we idol our trucks and cars the entire time we're out and about, for fear of them not starting. Does that mean we have this bubble of warmth over the frozen tundra?? Hey, have the scientists even considered that maybe, just maybe that would actually be welcomed?? In some parts of the same province crocuses are pushing their heads thru the ground in keen anticipation of spring, but up here we're lucky to hear birds chirping in Walmart.So, as I bundle up to venture out, think of me if you only need to put on a small jacket to go to admire the purple blossom's peeking out in your flower beds :P

Saturday, January 26, 2008

It was a BIG hit.....so many of Mom's friends came out to celebrate Mom's special day!! What better way than to have a Tea Party :) We played games, drank tea and ate wonderful food....a good time was had by all.

Friday, January 25, 2008

Tomorrow is Mom's Birthday Tea Party and I just got back from buying things to make a couple of cakes and other food. I'm also providing coffee, cream, tea and milk. I'm making an Angel Food cake iced with Cool Whip and I'm putting some strawberries and raspberries in bowls on the side. Not everyone likes fruit. I'm also making a lemon/pudding cake iced with Cool Whip as well. It's simple and always a big hit :)

Well, even though it's not too bad temp wise, the wind has kicked up and it's freezing!! I hear it's supposed to get pretty cold this weekend. I don't mind so much, although I hate how the wind blows the walk way full of snow. It also make the highway slippery. Have a good weekend!

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

I agree 100% with Maxine!! At this point in my life I'm of the opinion that Maxine is a wise old Gal and life is too short to take it too seriously. So....let me just pop some corn, kick up my heels and.....well, need I say more?

The sun is making the snow glitter and sparkle, making it so bright out I have to squint. But it's warmed up to -3c and is so delightful to be out in.

Our church is bursting at the seams with new babies born and along with that come the baby showers. We have one coming up for three babies, so today when I popped into Walmart I found Care Bears on a Clearance shelf and was thrilled to buy one for each. Sometimes I just don't know what to get them.

My neighbor's husband works in the Oil patch, like mine. He hubby took their truck to work and is staying out in Camp, so I offered for her to use my car when she needs it. So, yesterday I stayed with the 3 year-old twin boys while she popped down to the grocery store for some needed food. They are hysterical....they finish each other's sentences, try to talk over each other and pull me into their bedroom to show off all their toys. They have the cutest big cheeks and are quite a handful. I love it!! :)

My hubby drove way up the Alaska Highway to work the night shift. He is a Safety Tech. At night the Testers pull gas samples once an hour to monitor the Well and hubby has to go along to make sure they are not overcome with sour gas, which is lethal (well, that's quite a simplistic explanation, but you get the point). My oldest son is a Tester and happened to be working the day shift.After waiting for the night Testers to show up, they heard that the guys were in an accident on their way in to work. The two men were ambulanced back into town to the hospital and the truck was totaled!! Not what anyone wanted to hear. Thank God, the men are ok. So, consequently hubby got sent home and on the way into town he had to stop and gather as much stuff as he could find from the truck. These guys carry huge tool boxes and lots of equipment.

Just to end on a happier note, I get to go to my grandson's hockey game on Fri. night and yell and cheer his team on....talk about great therapy :)

Monday, January 21, 2008

A fresh snowfall started out the weekend, making our world pure and clean once again. Some of the snowflakes were huge and in the sunshine they sparkled and glittered like diamonds. Last evening we went out for dinner and we noticed a glorious moon. The sky was so clear, making the moon a huge globe of light, with the Old Man clearly visible. As we drove the moon seemed to follow us and stepping out of the car at the restaurant we noticed clouds moving across the moon-beams, creating an almost haunting effect. And so ended our weekend.

I'm a reality show fan and watched the finale to The Amazing Race. I'm glad to say that the couple I was cheering on, won. What I find fascinating about this show is that by cooperating and working together, teams of two contestants move forward faster and better than those who bicker, fight and slam each other. Of course there is an element of chance and unforeseen glitches which trip up the teams along the way, that factors into the elimination process. I just think it's a mirror of real life and real relationships....not to mention how totally annoying it is to listen to the constant rivalry....that gets old fast!! Do any of you have friends like that?? Or a family that is in constant bicker mode?? Then you know how uncomfortable it is to sit and listen to it.

Speaking of family....we had my brother and sis-in-law over for coffee yesterday afternoon. I can't help but wonder why we live in the same town but don't see much of each other. Funny how that is and brings me back to the entry in this Blog a little while back, about how the busyness of life can rob us from the things that are the most important to us....family, health, stopping to smell the roses, etc.Don't make the same mistake today....or for the rest of the week :)

Saturday, January 19, 2008

No big deal.....I just added my favorite links. Why I'm even mentioning it, since I wouldn't have to cuz you can see them right on my side bar, is that once again I had to be shown how to include that. Sheesh...sometimes my brain just doesn't hold technical info. No....it's not age related, it's just something out of the realm of my giftedness :P Ok....so maybe it's an age related thing, who knows? Anyhow, look for more additions as I have the time to add them or as I stumble upon them.

Friday, January 18, 2008

I have hubby home for the weekend, which is always a treat. During the inter months we pretty much figure on not seeing each other much, so his days off are welcome. I dragged him out to help me grocery shop. He really does hate doing that but it's just so much easier for me if he can help with dragging bags in and out of the cart and into the house.

Hubby got home late aft yesterday so I was being a good girl and sharing the TV remote with him. Actually, he was watching TV while I did some last minute e-mailing. He decided to watch Man vs. Wild on the Discovery channel. No word of a lie....that was the most disgusting show!! It was all about what this guy eats when going into the remote areas of all countries and finding food in the wild. He tried spiders, grasshoppers, beetles to name a few. Now those weren't so bad. When he sampled local delicacies, like a camel's stomach contents, sheep testicles, goat fat....well, I was dry heaving just listening to it, never mind watching it. Then he goes into how to stay hydrated....ok, I draw the line at squeezing the fluid out of elephant dung or drinking my own urine....I mean, is this guy crazy? Who in their right mind even tries this out??? If I knew eating and drinking weren't part of the travel plans, would I even consider going into the Sahara Desert?? And what's worse...it's not like his plane crashed so he has to survive until help come....nope, he voluntarily does this for TV....I swear, that's the stupidest thing I've heard of in my life!!! And then Hubby wonders why I grabbed the remote back :P Humpf!!

I'll not make the same mistake this evening either! If there is nothing on TV then it will simply get turned off. I don't think my stomach can take another round of that.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

I've had a very productive day. I got some chores done this morning....I cleaned my fridge, inside and out, got garbage collected and out to the curb for pick up and then pulled out the 8x10's I wanted to preserve before they got crumpled or ruined somehow.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Oh.....I'm just SO thrilled to finally, finally get my hair cut, styled and shaped. Man, I think I've been growing my hair forever and where is the hair?? Ack! I admit some of the length and bulk were chopped away, but I can finally see where we're going with this.....a reverse bob. Yes, once again that is in style for all ages and in various lengths.Cooooll!!

Monday, January 14, 2008

It's an overcast day and looks like it could very well snow, but it's mild and I'm loving that!I'm feeling almost like my old self again and so of course, I needed to get out of the house....I was going stir-crazy! So, yesterday I went to church and then out for lunch with a friend. Can you believe we actually sat in the restaurant for 3 hours??

I also decided that I didn't want my Mom's Birthday to pass without some sort of celebration. Her B-day is the 24th, but I knew more would be able to make it to a party on the 26th. I know Mom loves going to quaint little tea shops and when I lived in the Lower Mainland I loved to search for tea shops I wanted to take Mom to. So, since there is no such thing here, I decided to plan a Birthday Tea Party. I've invited all of Mom's friends, my sisters-in-law, the older grand-daughters and a few of my friends. I've arranged to have it in the dining hall of Mom's church, since there will be quite a few of us, and serve tea out of china teapots, in cups and saucers. I have a gorgeous tea set that I got for a wedding gift, as well as cups & saucers and have asked some others to bring theirs as well. I'm keeping it simple, serving only fruit, finger sandwiches and Birthday cake. I'll add a lovely table cloth and pretty napkins. I'm searching for a few games to play, just to break the ice and have fun. Everyone will mingle and visit around. I asked that the gifts be simple and handmade or home-baked. This is just up my Mom's alley and it'll make her feel so special :)

Friday, January 11, 2008

Yes, another week has zoomed by and we're headed, nose first, into another weekend. Why is it that I'm feeling like time just flies? I mean, I know the whole age related theory and it's probably a proven , scientific fact, but I'm wondering how true it really is. So, take for example, I hear that theory from a lot of people and the interesting part is, that many of them are 20-30 years younger than me!! So, what does that mean....we leave the cradle and suddenly time starts speeding up?? I don't remember thinking, feeling or saying that time goes faster the older I get, until I was maybe in my 40's. I have my own theory.....I think that as kids and teens and maybe well into our 20's (and maybe our 30's) we live like it'll be forever. We try new things all the time, take risks, play and spend many an evening out with friends and generally keeping busy with things we love to do. As we appraoch and cross over into more responsibilities, life isn't always fun....we need evenings at home to rest, we fill more hours working or thinking of work. Our time becomes less "our" time and is given over to spouses, kids, jobs....you name it.So....what am I saying? Could it be that we don't stop to play, smell the roses and savor life like when we were young, so it feels like we have less time, making it a rare commodity, thus feeling like it flies because we are not consciously enjoying every minute. When we come up for air after filling many, many hours with responsibilities, the leftover hours rush by and then we're right back at it. How about making an effort to take time to "play", time to enjoy life, time to savor nature, time to connect with loved ones.....maybe we'll even find that we have "more" time.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

I figured I've talked enough about my health....I'm just tired of hanging in there and wondering when I'll feel great,when I'll be able to take a deep breath and it not hurt, sooooo....It's good to hear the kids laughing, squealing and playing outside in the snow once again. School is back in, after a nice long Christmas break. I'm not totally sure the kids are happy about the school part, but obviously they missed playing together, by the sounds of it. Moms nationwide breathe a collective sigh of relief to get back to a routine schedule. I know my grandkids were showing signs of grouchy lack of sleep.

One of my Christmas gifts was a paint easel and I'm really looking forward to getting a few added items and getting started painting again. Unfortunately, I will miss this upcoming Sat. class, which is due to my health, but I have many techniques to go over.

I spent an hour looking online for vacation get-away packages.....just for the fun of it....well, and if there were some really good deals....and yes, there are, but for now I'll have to day-dream....we're not going anywhere this winter. I'm thinking, as I seem to every Jan., that it would be wise to plan a tropical vacation within the freezing couple months of the New Year. I think most of us experience the anticlimax of Christmas and feel the need for warmth and sunshine. I'll have to make a mental note to plan for that in 2009 :P

Well, I better get back to gathering work receipts and paperwork hubby needs to file his income tax. It is always such an effort to get it all together to send to our accountant and I procrastinate to the last millisecond, so this year I figured that since I can't get out of the house right now, that would be the best time to knuckle down and get that done.

Monday, January 7, 2008

This is getting old already...I went into the hospital to get my chest x-rayed and was informed they could take 3-5 days to get to the Doc.....one could be dead by then, but not to worry :P I'm cranky and don't know anymore if I feel better or worse....my head is clearer but my throat and chest are SO tight that when I cough it kills my throat and makes my head pound. G is getting off work early and will pick up my meds on his way in. Oh yeah.....the Doc hasn't returned the Pharmacist's call yet for a new antibiotic for me since they are out of the other....lovely.

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Yes, it's official.....Doc says I have ear, throat and sinus infection and it's looking like Bronchitis as well......bummer!! On Mon. I have to go in for chest x-rays. I feel miserable and need to rest so I get totally better.

Friday, January 4, 2008

So, this is where that darned cold is today.....yes, still plugging my sinuses, but there is a new development....it's settled into my chest and makes my muscles sore. I decided that for today at least, I'm taking it easy and having a jammie day. I ran a nice, hot bath with Eucalyptus to help ease my muscles and loosen the cold.

On to a healthier topic....wait....my day has been so low-key that I don't have another topic. Maybe tomorrow :) Have a great weekend!

Thursday, January 3, 2008

What started as a nuisance has become a full blown head cold. I say "blown" very loosely....it's not easy to blow my nose....it's like my sinuses need to feel full and so they are reluctant to blow it all away. Yes, it's the "common" cold that hits everyone usually once through out the winter season. That doesn't make the experience any more fun to deal with though. So, I've been snuffling around for a week already but today is the first day that my head actually hurts! I have taken all the herbal, immune-boosting stuff I can but it looks like this needs to run it's course...darn it all!Excuse me while I sneeze and go blow my nose.....again!

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

It's a gorgeous, sunny winter day. The temps are milder again, after hovering around the -20c mark again. I pretty much cleared and packed up the Christmas decor and put things back to my regular decor. I am keeping a few wintry things out yet though.

I have discovered through all this that I don't have enough new calendars. Not that I usually hang a lot of them but I couldn't find one for my small Calendar frame or one for in my bathroom. I did hang the scrapping one on my fridge. It was just too big to hang anywhere else and the moisture damage it would get in the bathroom would ruin it.

I also went thru the tote that has all my gift bags/wrap/bows and discarded tissue paper that I was going to recycle in a new gift bag, but some is just too wrinkled and quite frankly, tacky. I have not embraced recycling as my new religion, nor made a New Years Resolution to do so. I have started with card board, paper and plastic containers...but I'll admit I'm not committed to going green as some people I know.

Now that my confession is out there, I guess I feel better, however I may have some people who are totally appalled that I'm not doing my part towards making our planet green. I can see me changing my opinion eventually.

So, guess what Dr. Phil's show is about.....the number 1 NYR in America.....Diets...wahoo! NOT!!! I SO agree about weight gain and loss as a result of lifestyle. I've read his book....good, but I'm still large. I do want to make healthier choices this year and I'm thinking I'm not going to like it.

So, there is a peek into my brain today. Hmmmm....interesting :)Random :)

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

I think Maxine says it all....I don't make New Year's Resolutions anymore because of the high probability of breaking all of them within the first day of the New Year. Just starting a new year is enough for me....new year, new start, new year to accomplish something on my list of "things-I-want-to-do-before-I-die"....even if only one, new year to spend time with my family, new year to spend with friends, new year to be a better person....well, you get the picture :)

So,with this modern version of the old Scottish lyrics, I wave goodbye to 2007and lift my cup to 2008....

Times Long Goneby Robert Burns

(translation)

Should old acquaintances be forgotten,And never brought to mind?Should old acquaintances be forgotten,And days of long ago !

Chorus:For old long ago, my dearFor old long ago,We will take a cup of kindness yetFor old long ago.

We two have run about the hillsidesAnd pulled the daisies fine,But we have wandered many a weary footFor old long ago.

We two have paddled (waded) in the streamFrom noon until dinner time,But seas between us broad have roaredSince old long ago.

And there is a hand, my trusty friend,And give us a hand of yours,And we will take a goodwill draught (of ale)For old long ago!

And surely you will pay for your pint,And surely I will pay for mine!And we will take a cup of kindness yetFor old long ago!

Quote for Today

About Me

Faye

I have been married to my first love for 40years. We survived raising 3 sons and they have turned out pretty darn great :) And they have given us 2 grandkids....SO much fun!! I love to create...oil paintings, knitting, scrapbooking,reading.